Pointdexters can easily be destroyed with a Spin Jump when their spikes are retracted, but they will damage the player when their spikes are out. They can also be hard to notice, if the player quickly falls down underwater.

Sonic Mania

In Sonic Mania, and its expansion Sonic Mania Plus, the Pointdexters appear as enemies. In terms of design, they are unchanged from their debut game. In these games, they only appear in the underwater sections of Hydrocity Zone.

In gameplay, the Pointdexters behave just like in their debut game: they swim around slowly while periodically protruding spikes. Also, upon destroying a Pointdexter, it will release an Animal.

Powers and abilities

The Pointdexters are adapt swimmers and can protrude metal spikes from their bodies, the latter of which makes a direct attack on them very painful.